Editorial

In twelve months we have encountered natural disasters – such as the effects of the Australian bush fires where the New Zealand atmosphere turned into a strange orange hue, and then a world pandemic that literally halted movement. New Zealand has had an election. The USA’s election controversies go on. Covid-19 vaccinations are rolling out in the hope that the spread of the virus can be brought under control. As I think about the strain the world is currently under, I am reminded of the words Paul wrote in Romans: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves … But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it in patience” (Rom 8:22–23, 25, NRSV).

Unlike the previous three issues of Stimulus which focussed on the pandemic, this issue returns to its regular pattern of articles, columns, and book reviews. In this issue, we have five articles to share with you.

We begin with an article that engages with one of the major tragedies that impacted New Zealand in March 2019 – the Christchurch mosque shootings. On that day, fifty-one people lost their lives. Practical theologians, Lynne and Steve Taylor conducted a qualitative research project into how churches responded immediately after the tragedy. Their article offers some initial analysis of the 141 church leaders who responded to their initial research questions. The article offers an insightful focus on practical postures of incarnational response to a tragedy: speak, express, engage, remain, act.

Many of us in Aotearoa, New Zealand know of Peter Lineham as a Professor of Religious History and as a commentator on Christianity in one form or another. He has been the oft-called upon expert on religious matters in the media, given his breadth of knowledge and insight. At the end of 2018, there was a conference held in his honour upon his retirement at Massey University. Peter’s friend, and colleague in the discipline of religious history, Allan Davidson, surveys Peter’s extensive work and the positive significance of what he has offered in helping put Christian belief and practice back on the map in noticing its contribution to New Zealand history.

In the past decade or so, Auckland has experienced a housing boom; new suburbs have emerged out of pockets of land. For the first time in two centuries, suburbs are being established without churches featuring in the built environment. Paul Moon uses the rapidly growing suburb of Hobsonville Point as his case study to look at this new reality. He discovers that while church buildings are absent from Hobsonville Point, Christianity most certainly is not. In fact, Christians have adapted flexibly in creating communities of believers.

Next we have Jacob Sawyer’s “Theology and Education.” In his article, he uses the framework of an “Orthodox Trinitarian-incarnational theology” and considers what it would look like to apply this to teaching subjects of mathematics. He suggests that when using this framework there is language and dignity given to the act of teaching, recognising that “[t]he practice of theology is a witness to God in the passion and work of all people, in part so that these might recognise God’s joy and the supreme dignity to which they are called.”

John Holland’s article, “Exploring New Zealand Business Ethics: Values, Virtues, and Catholic Social Teaching,” looks at moral economy issues and uses the principles of a Catholic social doctrine to offer an ethical system for business practice in order to help strengthen the common good for society. He argues that religious commitment actually improves moral judgements associated with business decision-making.

Along with our articles, we are pleased to present our Hearts and Minds column where Myk Habets considers what the impact of mindfulness has. He considers the origins of the practice and reflects how in the Christian faith we can also come to be settled and calm. Sam Burrows and Yael Klangwisan, lecturers in the Education team at Laidlaw, engage with popular culture in the Synergeo column. They focus on how the medium of music helps ground significant moments, particularly for adolescents, to make sense of the world.

One of our editors, Sarah Penwarden interviews Sarah Scott-Webb, from SIM International for Ministry Corner. Geoff New, in his “The Voice” column, uses the words from Psalm 118. And our old pal, St Imulus once more has some thoughts from “the Pearly Gates.”

In our review section, Yael Klangwisan reviews Taika Waititi’s film, Jojo Rabbit, and Peter Jelleyman discusses the work of the poet, E. E. Cummings. With our popular culture reviews, we, of course, have our book reviews.

As the year of all things “unprecedented” draws to a close, the Stimulus team hopes and prays that wherever you are, you will find the time over the Christmas break to be refreshing as we look back at what was, and hope for what is to come.

Fiona Sherwin is the Stimulus coordinator. As well as pulling the journal together, her time is spent on the Henderson Campus as the manager of Laidlaw College's Student Support team.